Explosive-engine.



No. 657,384. Patented Sept. 4, |900. S. F. BEETZ.

EXPLUSIVE ENGINE.

(Applictan led May b, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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EXPLOSIV'E ENGINE.

Patented Sept. 4, |900.

(Application med my 5, 1899.)

4 Sheei's-Sheet 3.

(un Model.)

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N0. 657,384. Patented Sept. 4, |900.

' S. F. BEETZ.

EXPLDSIVE ENGINE.

l (Appiiction medny 5. 1899.)

Sheets-Sheet 4.

(llo Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT rrron.

. sA-MIEL FREDERIOBEETZ, onMENDoTA, ILLINOIS.

, ExPLoslvl-i-'l-:NGlNL y sPEcInrcArrIoIvrrming part of Letters Patent No. 657,384, dated september 4, 1900. l Application ined May 5.1899. semina; 715,673. (Numan.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may cmtcen:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FREDERIC BEETZ, of Mendota, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and` permit of instantly starting, stopping, and re versing the engine whenever desired. The invention consists of novelfeatures and part-s and combinations of the`same,as`

will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.'

A practical embodiment of my invention is` represented in the accompanying drawings,

,forming a part of this speciication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is aside elevation of the improvement. Fig. 2isa plan viewof the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the cylinder and adjacent parts. Fig. 4 is an en! larged sect-ionalside elevation of part ofthe reversing mechanism, the section being on the line 4E 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional rear elevation of the same on the line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. Gis an enlarged sectional side elevation of the rotary admission and exhaust valve. View of the. same on the line 7 7` in Fig. 6. Figs. S, 9, and 10 are'sir'nil'ar'views ofthe admission and exhaust valveiu differentpositions. i Fig. 1l is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the admission and discharge valves of the compression-chambers, the sec-` tion being taken on the line ll ll in Fig. 3; and Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the throttle-valve.` i

The improved explosive-engine isprovided with a main cylinderA, provided at orfnear its middle `with'a transverse-partition A for dividing the Amain cylinder into two `cylin ders, in which reciprocate the pistons B B',

secured on a hollow piston-rod C, passing` The outer end of thepistonlrodC'is connect-A Fig. v7 is asectional plan" edwith a cross-head D, pivotally connected a pitman E with the crank-arm F' of the main driving-shaft F, carrying a pulley F2 `for transmitting the rotary motion of the engine to other machinery. By the co/nstruction described the main cylinder A is provided with working chambers ASA4 on opposite sides of the partition A and with compression-chambers A5 A6 atthe outer ends of said cylinder. The working chambers A3 A4 are connected by ports a and b with ports c and d., respectively, formed in the body Gr of a rotary admission-valve G, disposed vertically and mounted to rotate continuously Ain the body G', the valve being driven from 1 the main driving-shaft F by gearing herein- I after more fully described.

Ialternately with an admission-port f and an exhaust-port g formed in the rotary valve G, the port f connecting at its upper end (see Fig.. 6)with an admission-pipe H, containing a spring-pressed` valve H', to allow the explosive charge to pass from the pipe H into the port f; but to prevent a return movement ofthe charge by the spring-pressed valve H' the exhaust-port g connects at its lower end Lwithan exhaust-pipe I, bolted tothe valve- 5body G' and leading to a suitable'place of discharge, said pipe serving to carry off the 1 products of combustion, as .hereinafter more fully described;

' The rotary admission and exhaust valve G iis `preferably slightly -conical in shape, the admission-port f'being narrow and opening 5 at the large end of the valve and the exhaust- `port g being wide, as shown, and opening at the opposite end of the valve. The ports c CZ lof the stationary valve-body leading to the working chambers are preferably diametricg of the valve is sufticieutlywide to permit a `chamber during the whole or greater part of valve continues Y uninterruptedly to rotate. The spring-controlled check-valve H' for the admission of the compressed explosive fluid tothe valve is'arranged in the supply-pipe f very close to the rotary valve, so as to leave the.4 least practicable space between them.

The ports c and d are adapted to register` Vally opposite each other. The exhaust-port iiow of the exhaust-gases "from the working the exhaust-stroke ofthe piston, although theA vThis valve H', besides admitting the explo` sive duid to the rotary valve, prevents the fire from extending back into the feed-pipe and itsconnection, thereby consuming the explosive iiuid intended -for future explosions in the power-chamber- The rotary valve Gis espel be seen that the valve does the work of two ordinary. valves for each and every power` chamber it works-namely, that of an inletvalve and an outlet-valve.

` vThe pipe H connects with the casingJ a throttle-valve J, provided witha handle J2,

L2 with dischargeand admissiony valves N'l N', I

bolted to the ends ofthe cylinder A and connected withkthe com pression-chambers A5 A@ f by ports h and al, as is lplainly indicated inu Fig. 3'. The said chambers NVN' are alsoconsource, such as a, flame, to cause ignition of the 'explosivecharge at the proper moment, tlieexplos'ive charge passing intothecorresponding working chamber A3 or A4 to drive the corresponding piston iB or B on'its outf Ward stroke. The chambers Q Q form trans- ;,verse'extensions Vof the cylinders, thus-increasing the capacity of the working chamlinder A. It is evident from the foregoing .that when one of the pistons B B- is thus forced outwardby an explosion in the correspending working chamber the other piston v.moves i-nward,and viceversa, and during this inward stroke of apiston the products of com- (bustion ofthe previous-explosion arel forcedl lth-rough the corresponding ports b d `or a c g to the exhaust-pipe I to carry olf t e said products. Du ringthisreturn or inward stroke vvof a piston a new charge is drawn into the `compression-chamber A@ orA5 by way of the valves N' or N, and, when a piston is on the bers without increasing the length ofthe cyl-V nected with vbranch pipes O O', connected with a supply-pipe O2, connected with a snitable source of gaseous-mixture supply. rEach ofthe valves NN is provided with a central l chamber N2,leading to the'ports h andi men.-

. tioned and normally closed atits'bottom by.)

a check-valve Nia-nd at its top byvacheckvalveN4, and the stem N5 of the check-waivev N3` extends loosely into the hollow stern N6. o'f. the other check-valve Nto limit the move` ment of the check-valve N3 and to guide the,

same on said stem N,6. The movementof the4 valve Nis limited by aspiderN (See Fig."` 11.) Now when the pistonB orB is on theinzward stroke the, corresponding check valve. N5 opens and the explosive mixturefrom the. supply-pipe Ozis drawn into the compressionchamber A5 o`r=A6 by Way of the corresponding branch pipe O or O, and whenthe pistonsB and B are on the outward. strokethezi Y charges are compressed 'and n'allytforcedg into the chamber vN2 and through the valve:

N4, whichnowopens into the corresponding y branch pipe L' or L2 to pass to the 'conveyeri corresponding4 ports c or d 'andby way of v the ports a or vb to the'vvorking chambersAA.3A A4 and totheexplosion-chambers QQ, bolted? tol the cylinder A,v preferably .at the! rear thereof, and connected with the interior'of said'workingchambers by the kportsj and. (,See Fig. 3.)y It is understood that when the valve N8 kopens I for admitting a charge they'- vother valve N4 remains closed,`becaiuse-presf surefrom above is lgreater than frombelowg; "f and when theA ,compressedA Achargeis passed j into the chamber v Nthe valvevN3 istseated/ andy kept seat-ed/whilethe force'ofthefcom-l pressed charge'opensrthevalvefN andallowsj pipeLQr L! "The,explosion#chambersfQfQf pipe L and byway of thethrottle-valve `J=to` the pipe H andfto-the valve G, which-deliv-j i ers at the port fthe explosivechargeto the the lcharge tolpass to the CorrespOndin,fgfbrailvoutward or Working stroke such previouslydrawn -in charge is compressed and finally `forced into theworking chamber of the other cylinder immediately after the exhaust-port g has moved out of.` register with the corresponding port d or c-that is, immediately previous to the returning piston Bf or B reach jing the innermost end of its stroke. Ignition nowl takes place just atnthe time when the crank-arm F. has left the dead-centerposir.tionso.that`the explosive force of theignit-ed charge-forces the correspond-ing piston B or -B outward in the manner above described;l

are so disposed that for each revolution of said valve G theiport f registers'with the portsc land d, and in a like manner the port `g registers with the ports d Q,Iso that a charge is admitted to each working. chamber during each revolntionlof the main shaft F, and an 'exhaustv takes place from the saidworking chambers during each'rl-:bvolutionQv 1 c In order to rotatefthe .valve G in the mannerfdescri-bed, I provide/the lower endtherey 0f. `Wit-hi 'a' spur-wheel-,R vin meshfwith a spurwheel R, jmounted to rotate'on a studgRz, an dv Y the hub of thespur-wheel `R lis vsecured a 'el gearwheel R3 in mesh with abevel gearwheel R4, secured ona shaf t R?, arranged longitudinally and provided atl one .end kWth a hand-wheely R611 nder theV control of.v th e 'o perator `for reversing, the engine, as hereinafter llyrdescribved, j i j A e forward lend of lthefshaft R? is secure a bevel gear-.wheel R7 in "mesh 'atY op. posite'sides with `bevel gea .virheels S S', bot-h untedltorot tel lfoo'selyfon the main,V dlrivshaftF. NOnQthe/bevel gear-v heelsS S fulcrufm ed` spring-pressed p s' 82S?, ex,-

in opposite directionsan d;v adapted to tshoulders on collars maindrivingrShi-ft VF;

yto the correspond- The portsg and f in the admission-valve IOO IIO

of the-shaft Fis transcollar` IS4 or S5 and the ing gear-wheel S or S' and by the latter to the gear-wheel R7 on the shaft R5. Now Whichever pawl S2 or S3 engages its collar at the time causes a transmission of motion from the shaft F to the shaft R5, but always in the` same direction, and when it is desired to re, verse the operator simply lturns the handwheel R6 to disengage the onepawl from the shoulder on its collar and to bring the other pawl into engagement with the shoulder on its collar to cause a further uninterrupted vturning of the shaft R in the same direction;

R5 from the shaft F causes only a further` turning of the valve G. When the valve G is turned by the operator turning the hand- Wheel R5, the explosive charge is then passed irst into the chamberA4 or A8, and consequentlya reversing of the engine takes place when this charge is ignited.

In order to keep the hollow piston-rod C` and the cylinder A, as well as the valve-body G' and the stuffing-box A2 in the partition A', cool, I prefer to force a cooling liquid, such as water, through the said `piston-rod C and the water-jackets in the said cylinder A and valve-body G', and for thispurpose I provide a stationary pipe T, which extends through the outer cylinder-head and through astuand then into and through a pipe D2, pivot-` ally connected with the cross-head extension, (see Fig. 1,) the lower end of thepipe being pivotally connected by a pipe U with a pipe U' and opening into the water-jacket of the main cylinder at the forward end` thereof.4

The said water-jacket 'is in communication with the Water-jacket in the partition A' and a water-jacket in the body G', so that the water returns through all said water-jackets,

finally passing through a pipe `U2 to a suitable place of discharge. Either of the pipes U or U' contains a check-valveU3 to prevent the return flow of `the Water on the inward stroke of the pistons B B'and piston-rod C.

The operation is as follows: When the sev- .A

eral parts are in the position shown in the drawings, then the piston B is on its outward stroke, owing to the` explosion of the charge, in the working chamber VA3, and the other4 piston B' is on the inward stroke to discharge the products of combustion from a previous explosion in the working chamber A4 through the registering ports 5,61, andg to the pipe I jward stroke.

and at the same timedraw in a new charge of gaseous mixture into the compression-chamber A6 by way of the supply-pipe O2, branch pipe O', and the valve N', connecting by its chamber N2 and port t' with said compressionchamber A5. During .the outward stroke of the piston B the previously-draWn-in charge in the compression-chamberA5is compressed and forced through the port 72, into the chamber N2 of the valve N `to finally flow past the valve N4 into the branch pipe L', from the latter into the conveyer-pipe L, and by way of the throttle-valve J to the pipe H, from which the mixture passes into the port f, which will move into register'with the port d shortly atL ter the exhaust-port g has left the port d, so that the explosive and compressed charge vpasses by way of the ports f, d, and b int-o the working chamber A4 at the time the piston B' reaches the inner end of its stroke, the

charge passing by way of the port 7c into the explosion-chamber Q', in which the charge is ignited by coming in contact with the heated pipe Q2 at the time the port f is again moved out of register with the port d and the crank-arm F' has just passed the dead-cen- `ter position, so that the force of the explosion is exerted against the inner face of the ,piston B', and the latter is thereby driven outward in the inverse direction of the arrow ct', thus causing the piston B to make its in- When this takes place, the pre- `viously-drawn-in charge in the chamber A is compressed by the outwardly-moving pisfton B', and .the products of combustion in the chamber A8 are forced by the returning piston B through the `ports at, c, and g into the exhaust-pipe I, it being understood that lthe port g is advanced sufficiently to register with the port c for receiving the products of IOO combustion from the working chamber A5.

VA new charge is now drawn into the chamber A5. by the returning piston B, and when the latter nears the end of its inward stroke the port g moves out of register with the port c` 'and then immediately after the portfmoves into register with the port c, so that the charge `compressed in the chamber AG is passed through the valve G into the working chamuber A2 to be exploded therein soon after the piston B' has passed its next dead-center position. The above described operation is then repeated. i

From the foregoing it is understood that an impulse is given for each forward and Vbackward stroke, and consequently a continuous and uniform rotary tained.

In orderto equalize thepressure in the conmotion is obveyer branch pipes L'iL2and the pipe L, I prefer to provide the latterwith a cushion- IIO ing-chamber P, so-that the resistance to compression is not greaterthan the actual effective pressure in the explosion-chambers `Q Q' `immediately previous to ignition.

Forstarting the engine I prefer to make use of the storage-chamberpreviously mentioned midonnectediby the pipe K with the nnen.. tlc-valve J, sorthat for starting the said chamber-canbe connected by the pipe K'With the pipe I-I` upon the operator turning the throttle-valve J to cut od the conveyer-pipe L and to connect the pipes K and H with each other.`

Now anexplosive charge or-even a charge of compressed air` contained in the storagechamber can pass through the properly-set valve G intothe corresponding working charnberAi" or A4 to drive the corresponding piston on the outwardstroke, thus` startingthe engine, and when this is done the operator again shifts the throttle-valve J to disconnect the pipe K and .the storage-chamber and to again connect the conveyer-pipe L with y(See Figfl2.) l f Y Y l Having thus fully described myinvention,"

chamber, ythe said `valve-casings being `each e `provided with achamber leading to the said i port and connectedvthrough valve-'controlled the pipeH toallow the compressed explosive charges from thecompartmentsA5 Ab to passV to the .opposite working'chambers A4 and 'A3 in the manner above explained.v The pres- -sure in the storage-chamber is somewhat ree duced by starting the engine with the motive agent from the storage-chamber, and in ordery to replenish the lattervwith motive agentit is only necessary for the operator to some-1 what throttle the connection between the pipes L and H,'so thata part of the explosive and compressed-charge can pass through the by-pass J 3, containing a spring-pressed valve J4 from thepipe Lto the pipe K and toV the storage-chamber for lthe purpose mentioned.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An exploslve-engine, comprising a'main tion rand compression-chambers at the'outer ends of thev main cylinder, pistons reciprocat Y ing in. unison insaid cylinders and connected y with the main driving-shaft, a rotary valve; `driven in unison with said pistons and having an inlet'andexhanst-port arranged to altern ately connect said working chambers with the motive-agentsupply pipe and the ex-I haust-pipe, and valve-casings located at the -ends of the cylinder and-eachv connectedjrby a` port with the corresponding compression- 1openings with the motive-agent supply/Land with said rotary admission-valve, so that the A 2. lAn explosive-"engine, comprising ama ends of the main cylinder, pistons reciprocat ing iti-unison inthe saidcylinders andl connectedrwith the main driving-shaft, 'arotary compressed charge from c the compression-V chamber of l one i cylinder can vpass intojthe i working chamberof the other cylinder, suby L .Y `jstantially as shown and described.'v

1 valve driven in yunis',on1v'vith said pistons and g having anifnlet and ain-exhaust port arranged to alternately connect said working chambers, with the motive-agent-supply pipe and f` the exhaust-pipe, valves arranged in lcasings located at said compression -chambers' and arranged fo'r connecting said chambers, with the motive-agent supply and with said admission-valve so that the'compressed charge from :the compression-chamber of one cylinder can pass into the working chamber of the other i cylinder, the connection between 'the compression-chambers`V and the admission-valve 'f comprising a conveyer-pipe -connected with :the admission pipe for the rotary valve, branch pipes leadingy from the valve-casings f at the compression-chambers and connected with said conveyer-pipe and a? cushioningj, chamber for said conveyer-pipe substantially as shown and described.A 'i

4 3. An explosive-engine'comprisinga main Lcylinder having a transverse partition for forming separate cylinders containingxworking chambers on opposite sides ofV the partition, and compression-chambers onthe outer `ends' of the main cylinder, pistons'reciprolcating in 'unison-in said cylinders andconnected with the main driving-shaft, a rotary ,valve driven in unison with, said pistons and 1 -havingl an inlet and exhaust port arranged @to alternately conn'ectsaid working chamjb'ers-with the motive-agent-supply pipe and v; the'exhaust-pipe, valves at said compressionc'ham`bers and arranged forfconnecting said J3 chambers with the motive-agent supply and iwithgsaidadmission-valveso that the comipressed charge from" the compression-charniber of` onefcylinder can pass intok the'work- Qing chamber ofthe other cylinder, yexplosion- "chamberslocated'at oneI side of the cylinder a'djacent to theworkin'g chambers andeach connected by a port with the correspond- '-ingworking' chamber and an igniting'device 1in each explosion-chamber,,substantially as shown and described., y i i et.; An explosive-engine:comprisinga main cylinder having a central transverse partition for forming .separate cylinders containing Working-ychambers'on opposite sides of the partition and compression-chambers at the :outer endsof ,the'rn'ain cylinder, pistons reciprocating in unison in said cylinders', a station'ary Valve-bodylocatedat oneside of the cylinder' f and v`connected with the working Ic hainbersby ports located at opposite sides `ot'l the transverse partition, aj, rotary vvalve mounted Vto'tu'rn in said-body and driven in unison? with-said pistons, the said valve hav- -l fing an inlet 'andfexhaustf Vporta'rranged to i ,alternately connect said 4working chambers i linder having a transverse partition-for. yorming separatecylinderscontaining workv ing chambers on "oppositesides ottheparti l tionand compression-cliambersatl the. oute l 65A" i with .l the motive-agent' 1-saidf compressiontlifsaid rotary 'admission -valve,ya 1 i'ev'ersng-gearfor saidirotar admission-valve,

combustion-chambers, ,l ed at` the sidev of roo IIO

kro

connected with each compression-chamber and with the opposite Working chamber, two

valves in each of said valve-chambers one valve controlling the admission of the rexplosive mixture tothe compression-chamber and the other controlling the discharge of the compressed explosive mixture from the compression-chamber to the opposite working chamber, and a rotary valve in the connection from the said valve-chamber to the Working chamber for controlling the admission of the compressed charge to the said Working chamber and for controlling the exhaust from said working chamber substantially as shown and described.

6. An explosive-engine comprising Working chambers and `,compression chambers, pistons reciprocating therein, a valve-chamber connected with each compression-chamber, a pipe leading from a suitable source of gaseous-mixture supply and connected by branch pipes with the respective valve-chambers, valves in each of said valve-chambers, one for controlling the admission of the motive agent to the compressionchamber, and the other for controlling the passage of the compressed charge therefrom, pipes leading from the valve-chambers for conveying the compressed charge, a rotary valve connected by a supply-pipe With said conveying-pipes and with an exhaust, the said valve having a single inlet-port and a single exhaust-port for connecting the Working chamberaalternately with the compressed motive-agent supply and said exhaust, and a driving and reversing gear for said valve, substantially as shown and described.

7. An explosion-cylinder, provided with separate Working chambers `pistons reciprocating therein, a stationary valve-body provided With a port for each of the Working chambers, a rotary valve mounted to turn in said `body and connected with a compressed motive-agent supply and with an exhaust, the said valve having both an inlet and an exhaust port adapted to register alternately with each of the ports in the stationary valveb`ody,to connect said Working chambers alternately with said supply and exhaust, substantially as shown and described.

S. An `explosion-cylinder, provided with separate working chambers, pistons reciproeating therein, a stationary valve-body provided with ports connected Withthe respective Working chambers, a rotary valve mounted to'turn in said body and connected with a compressed motive-agent supply and an ex-Y haust, the said valve having a single inletportand a single exhaust-port adapted to register alternately with each portin the body of the valve to connect the Working chambers with said supply and said exhaust, and a driving and reversing gear for said valve, substantially as shown and described.

9. In an explosive-engine, the combination with the Working chambers of the engine, of a stationary valve-bodyhavinga port for each of the Working chambers, and a valve mounted to rotate in said body and having a narrow feed-port for the admission of the charge to the Working chamber, and a Wide exhaustport for the exhaust from said Working chamber, the said ports being adapted to register l alternately with each of the ports in the valvebody, substantially as described.

10. In an explosive-engine,the combination with a rotary admission and exhaust valve for said engine having an admission-port at one end thereof, of a feed-pipe connected with the` admission port, and a springpressed check-valve closing the opening between the said port and feed-pipe, the said valve opening inwardly in direction of the rotary valve, for the purpose set forth.

`11. In an explosive-engine, a stationary valve-body provided with a port connected With a Working chamber of the engine, a rotary valve mounted to turn in said body and having an admission-port and an exhaustport adapted to register alternately with the said lport in the body of the valve, an admission-pipe for the charge connected with the admission-port and a spring-pressed valve located in said pipe adjacent to the rotary valve, substantially as shown and described.

SAMUEL FREDERIC BEETZ. 

